Subaru and Subaru Tecnica International have revealed the limited-run Subaru Forester tS, sadly it won’t come to Australia.

AFTER TEASING AN Subaru Forester STI a month or so ago, Subaru and Subaru Tecnica International (STI) have revealed the Subaru Forester tS, which will be limited to just 300 units. Think of it as the Forester STI you have when you don’t have a Forester STI.

Sadly, the Forester tS is only for Japan and beyond some cosmetic bits and bobs from the STI parts bin, it gets bespoke tuning of its SI-DRIVE S# (Sport Sharp) setting, 17-inch Brembo brakes (front and rear), STI-tuned suspension, which sits 15mm lower, bespoke tuning of the ECU and TCU (transmission control unit), a CVT oil cooler, as well as 19-inch forged aluminium wheels.

Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre turbocharged Boxer four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 206kW and 350Nm of torque. It’s mated, as suggested earlier, to a CVT with revised transmission control unit.

The Forester tS also gets a recalibrated version of Subaru’s driver assistance technology, EyeSight, which has been adjusted to match the Forester tS’ Brembo brakes and lower ride height. Engineers also focussed on noise reduction and fitted the Forester tS with sound deadening floor mats. Clever.

Mechanical

• 245/45 R19 tires (TURANZA ER33)
• BBS-designed 19-inch forged aluminum wheels
• Brembo front 17-inch opposed 4-pot ventilated disc brake with STI logo
• Brembo rear 17-inch opposed 2-pot ventilated disc brake with STI logo
• STI-tuned suspension (15 mm-lower, inverted-strut front suspension)
• STI-designed flexible tower bar
• STI-designed flexible draw stiffener, front and rear
• STI-designed flexible support subframe, rear
• Exclusively-tuned ECU (Engine Control Unit)
  Exclusively-tuned TCU (Transmission Control Unit)
  CVT oil cooler

Exterior

• Exclusively-made black front grille (with “STI” ornament and cherry red pin stripe)
• STI-designed front spoiler/STI-designed rear under spoiler
• Black roof spoiler
• Exclusively-made large-diameter muffler cutter
• Fog light bezels (metallic silver)
• Black door mirrors
• Black side window moldings
• Exclusively-made side cladding moldings (metallic silver)
• Cherry red pin stripe on rear bumper
• Exclusively-made “STI” ornament, front and rear
• Exclusively-made “tS” ornament, side and rear

Interior

• Exclusively-made luminescent speedometer (up to 260 km/h) with STI logo
• Exclusively-made multifunction display
• Exclusively-made leather lapped steering wheel (quality-feel leather with “STI” ornament and red stitching)
• STI-designed push button ignition (red) with STI logo
• STI-designed leather lapped gear knob with STI logo
• Exclusively-made seats (black leather/black punching Ultrasuede® combination seats [red stitching and red accents])
• Door trims (black punching Ultrasuede/black Ultrasuede with red stitching)
• Carbon-toned instrument panel
• AC controls comprising silver dials and piano black-toned switches with red bezel
• Black interior (trims on pillars, roof, and window sills)
• Exclusively-made side sill plate with STI logo

Safety Equipment

• Exclusively-tuned EyeSight
• Exclusively-tuned VDC (Vehicle Dynamics Control)